Ninja CREAMi S’mores Soft Serve Recipe

Few desserts capture the feeling of summer quite like a freshly made s’more. The combination of toasted marshmallows, melted chocolate, and crunchy graham crackers is nostalgic, comforting, and almost impossible to resist. This Ninja CREAMi S’mores Soft Serve transforms those familiar campfire flavors into a smooth, swirled frozen dessert that can be made in your own kitchen.

The recipe starts with a rich but balanced chocolate soft-serve base made with whole milk, heavy cream, cocoa powder, and chocolate pudding mix. Once frozen and processed in the Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl, it is dispensed into bowls or cones and finished with marshmallow creme, crushed graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and chocolate.

Unlike recipes that blend large cookie pieces or sticky marshmallows directly into the base, this version keeps the soft serve smooth enough to move through the dispensing nozzle. The classic s’mores components are added after dispensing, giving every serving distinct layers of creamy chocolate, gooey marshmallow, and graham cracker crunch.

This recipe is specifically designed for the Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl NC701. The machine includes dedicated soft-serve programs and uses 16-ounce Swirl Pints that can be processed and then installed in the dispensing system. Ninja lists 13 automatic programs for this model, including six soft-serve options.

Key Takeaways

• Freeze the chocolate base for a full 24 hours before processing.
• Keep graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate pieces out of the base so they do not interfere with dispensing.
• Use the SOFT SERVE setting followed by the ICE CREAM program on the NC701.
• Re-spin the base when necessary if it looks dry, powdery, or crumbly after the first cycle.
• Add the marshmallow topping and graham cracker crumbs immediately after dispensing.
• Serve the soft serve right away for the best shape, texture, and contrast between the creamy base and crunchy toppings.

Why You Will Love This S’mores Soft Serve

This recipe delivers the flavor of a traditional s’more without requiring a campfire. The chocolate soft serve is rich enough to taste indulgent, while the marshmallow and graham cracker toppings provide the recognizable character of the original dessert.

It is also highly customizable. You can serve it in bowls, cake cones, waffle cones, or chocolate-dipped cones. The toppings can be arranged as a simple drizzle or turned into a full sundae with toasted marshmallows, chocolate sauce, and extra graham cracker pieces.

The recipe is also egg-free. That makes the base easier to prepare because there is no custard to cook, cool, or strain. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises using pasteurized eggs, a cooked egg base, or an egg-free formula when making homemade ice cream because raw or undercooked eggs may present a Salmonella risk. This recipe avoids that concern by using an eggless chocolate base and commercially pasteurized dairy ingredients.

Recipe Overview

Prep time: 10 minutes
Freeze time: 24 hours
Processing time: Approximately 5 minutes
Total time: Approximately 24 hours and 15 minutes
Yield: 4 small servings
Appliance: Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl NC701
Program: Soft Serve, then Ice Cream
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Soft-Serve Base

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 small pinch of salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the S’mores Toppings

• 3 whole graham cracker sheets, crushed
• 1/3 cup marshmallow creme
• 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate
• Chocolate sauce, optional
• Additional graham cracker pieces, optional

Equipment You Will Need

• Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl NC701
• One 16-ounce Swirl Pint
• Swirl Pint storage lid
• Outer bowl and lid
• Creamerizer Paddle
• Dispense lid and Swirl Press assembly
• Medium mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Chilled serving bowls or cones

How Each Ingredient Works

Whole Milk

Whole milk provides the primary liquid for the recipe. Its balance of water, milk solids, and fat helps create a creamy dessert without making the mixture excessively heavy.

Lower-fat milk can technically be used, but the result may feel icier or thinner. Whole milk produces a more reliable texture for a classic dessert-style soft serve.

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream adds richness and helps give the processed base a smooth mouthfeel. The amount is intentionally balanced with the milk so the finished dessert remains soft enough to dispense.

Adding too much heavy cream can make a base feel greasy or overly dense. It may also affect the way the frozen mixture processes.

Cocoa Powder

Unsweetened cocoa powder supplies the chocolate flavor without adding extra liquid. Natural cocoa powder works well, although Dutch-process cocoa can be used for a darker color and smoother, less acidic chocolate flavor.

Sift the cocoa if it contains lumps. Once frozen, dry pockets of cocoa are much more difficult to incorporate evenly.

Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix

A small amount of instant pudding mix improves the body and consistency of the base. Ninja’s official easy vanilla soft-serve formula also uses instant pudding mix along with milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla before freezing the pint for 24 hours.

Do not use prepared pudding. Add the dry mix directly to the other dry ingredients.

Granulated Sugar

Sugar does more than sweeten the recipe. It also influences how firmly the base freezes. Reducing it significantly may create a harder, icier pint that needs additional processing.

The toppings add more sweetness, so the chocolate base itself is moderately sweet rather than candy-like.

Marshmallow Creme

Marshmallow creme provides the smooth, gooey marshmallow component associated with s’mores. It is added after the soft serve has been dispensed.

Putting marshmallow creme inside the frozen base is not recommended for this recipe. Its concentrated sugar and sticky texture could create uneven pockets and make dispensing less predictable.

Graham Crackers

Graham crackers provide sweetness, toasted flavor, and crunch. Add them immediately before serving so they do not absorb moisture and become soft.

How to Make Ninja CREAMi S’mores Soft Serve

Step 1: Combine the Dry Ingredients

Add the granulated sugar, cocoa powder, instant chocolate pudding mix, and salt to a medium mixing bowl.

Whisk the ingredients thoroughly before adding any liquid. Breaking apart the cocoa and pudding mix at this stage helps prevent dry lumps from remaining in the base.

Step 2: Add the Milk

Slowly pour in the whole milk while whisking continuously.

Continue whisking until the sugar has mostly dissolved and the cocoa mixture is smooth. Scrape around the bottom and sides of the bowl to make sure no dry ingredients remain.

Step 3: Add the Cream and Vanilla

Pour in the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Whisk gently until evenly combined.

Avoid beating the mixture aggressively. You are not trying to whip air into the cream. Excessive whisking can create foam that makes it difficult to judge the fill level inside the pint.

Step 4: Fill the Swirl Pint

Make sure the white base of the Swirl Pint is completely closed.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the pint. Do not exceed the marked maximum fill line. If a small amount of mixture remains, refrigerate it rather than overfilling the container.

Place the storage lid securely on the pint.

Step 5: Freeze for 24 Hours

Set the pint upright on a flat, level surface in the freezer. Freeze it for at least 24 hours.

The surface of the mixture should freeze level. A tilted or uneven frozen base should not be processed until it has been allowed to soften, leveled, and frozen again.

Ninja’s official Scoop & Swirl recipes consistently direct users to freeze prepared bases for 24 hours before processing. Freezing for less time may leave the center too warm and produce a loose or partially melted result.

Step 6: Prepare the Toppings

Shortly before processing the pint, crush the graham crackers into a mixture of fine crumbs and small pieces.

Place the marshmallow creme in a microwave-safe bowl and warm it for approximately 5 to 10 seconds. Stir until it becomes slightly easier to drizzle. Do not overheat it.

For a toasted-marshmallow finish, arrange the mini marshmallows on a heat-safe surface and toast them carefully with a kitchen torch. Keep the flame away from the Ninja appliance, serving cones, paper products, and other flammable materials.

The marshmallows can also be left untoasted.

Step 7: Assemble the Machine

Remove the frozen pint from the freezer and take off the storage lid.

Place the Swirl Pint inside the outer bowl. Install the Creamerizer Paddle on the outer bowl lid, then secure the lid to the bowl according to the appliance instructions.

Place the bowl assembly onto the motor base and lock it into position.

Step 8: Process the Chocolate Base

Select SOFT SERVE, then choose ICE CREAM.

Allow the full program to finish before attempting to remove the bowl. The machine will process the frozen base into a texture suitable for dispensing.

Step 9: Check the Consistency

Open the bowl and inspect the chocolate soft serve.

A properly processed pint should look smooth and creamy. If it appears powdery, dry, or crumbly, return it to the machine and use RE-SPIN before installing the dispensing lid.

Ninja’s official soft-serve recipes recommend re-spinning a crumbly base until it becomes smooth enough to dispense, particularly when the freezer is set very cold.

Do not add loose graham cracker crumbs, mini marshmallows, or chocolate chips to the pint before dispensing. Larger pieces can obstruct the flow or prevent the soft serve from forming a clean swirl.

Step 10: Dispense the Soft Serve

Remove the processed pint from the outer bowl and install the dispense lid and Swirl Press assembly.

Place the pint in the dispensing area, align the tabs as directed, and turn the white pint base to the open position.

Position a chilled bowl or cone beneath the nozzle. Pull the handle steadily and rotate the bowl or cone as the chocolate soft serve is released.

Serve immediately after dispensing.

How to Assemble the S’mores Topping

Start with a layer of crushed graham crackers in the bottom of the bowl. Dispense the chocolate soft serve over the crumbs.

Drizzle the softened marshmallow creme over the swirl. Sprinkle with additional graham cracker crumbs, mini chocolate chips, and toasted mini marshmallows.

Finish with chocolate sauce when desired.

For cones, dip the rim in melted chocolate and coat it with graham cracker crumbs before adding the soft serve. Allow the chocolate to set before dispensing so the rim remains in place.

Tips for the Best Texture

Freeze the Pint Flat

The Ninja CREAMi processes the frozen mixture vertically. A level top helps the paddle move through the base as intended.

Dissolve the Dry Ingredients Completely

Undissolved sugar, cocoa, or pudding mix can create grainy patches. Whisk the base until no powder remains around the bottom of the bowl.

Chill the Serving Dishes

Soft serve begins melting as soon as it is dispensed. Chilled bowls and cones help it retain its shape for longer.

Add Crunchy Ingredients Last

Graham crackers quickly absorb moisture. Add them immediately before eating so they remain crisp.

Serve Immediately

This dessert has its best soft-serve shape directly after processing. Leaving it at room temperature will soften the swirl, while refreezing it will create a firmer consistency.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

The Base Is Crumbly

A crumbly texture usually means the pint is extremely cold or needs another processing cycle. Use RE-SPIN until the base becomes smooth.

Do not add milk automatically. Additional liquid may make the soft serve too loose to hold a swirl. Only consider adding a small splash when repeated re-spinning does not improve an unusually dry base.

The Soft Serve Is Too Runny

A runny pint may not have frozen long enough, may have been left at room temperature before processing, or may contain too much liquid.

Freeze the base for the full 24 hours and process it immediately after taking it from the freezer.

The Chocolate Flavor Is Weak

Use Dutch-process cocoa for a deeper chocolate profile, or add 1/4 teaspoon of espresso powder to the dry ingredients. The espresso powder should enhance the cocoa without making the dessert taste strongly of coffee.

The Marshmallow Creme Is Difficult to Drizzle

Warm it for a few seconds and stir. Another option is to place it in a small zip-top bag, cut off one corner, and pipe it over the soft serve.

The Graham Crackers Become Soft

Add them only when the dessert is ready to serve. Store extra crumbs in a sealed container away from moisture.

Recipe Variations

Peanut Butter S’mores Soft Serve

Drizzle warmed peanut butter over the chocolate soft serve along with the marshmallow creme. Finish with graham cracker crumbs and chopped peanut butter cups.

Salted Caramel S’mores

Replace the chocolate sauce with caramel sauce and add a small pinch of flaky salt. Keep the chocolate soft-serve base unchanged.

Cookies-and-Cream S’mores

Use crushed chocolate sandwich cookies in place of some of the graham crackers. Add the cookie pieces after dispensing rather than putting them through the nozzle.

Strawberry S’mores

Add sliced strawberries between the graham cracker layer and the chocolate soft serve. The fruit adds acidity and freshness to the rich toppings.

Dairy-Free S’mores Soft Serve

Replace the whole milk with unsweetened oat milk and use full-fat coconut cream instead of heavy cream. Confirm that the pudding mix, graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow products meet your dietary requirements.

The flavor will differ slightly because coconut cream has a noticeable taste, but it generally produces a richer result than thin plant-based beverages alone.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

The unprocessed base can remain frozen after the initial 24-hour period, so it does not have to be processed immediately. For the best flavor and texture, use it within approximately two weeks. Ninja gives a similar two-week quality recommendation on several official Scoop & Swirl recipes.

Keep frozen food at 0°F or below. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidance identifies 0°F as the appropriate temperature for long-term frozen-food storage.

Store the graham crackers and chocolate separately at room temperature. Refrigerate opened marshmallow creme according to its package instructions.

If soft serve remains after dispensing, return it to the pint, smooth the surface, cover it, and freeze it promptly. The texture will become firm. Reprocess it when you are ready to serve it again rather than expecting it to remain in a soft-serve state in the freezer.

Discard ice cream that has fully melted or has been left at room temperature for an extended period. USDA guidance recommends keeping cold foods at or below 40°F and not leaving perishable food unrefrigerated for more than two hours, or one hour when the surrounding temperature is above 90°F.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I put graham crackers inside the soft-serve base?

It is better to add graham crackers after dispensing. Cracker pieces may absorb moisture, become soft, and interfere with smooth movement through the dispensing nozzle. Adding them as a topping also preserves their crunchy texture.

2. Can I use regular marshmallows instead of marshmallow creme?

Yes. Mini marshmallows can be added as a topping, either plain or toasted. They should not be frozen whole inside the base because they may remain chewy, freeze unevenly, or obstruct dispensing.

Marshmallow creme is recommended for the drizzle because it creates a gooey texture similar to the center of a warm s’more.

3. Do I really need to freeze the Ninja CREAMi pint for 24 hours?

Ninja recommends freezing Scoop & Swirl bases for 24 hours. The mixture may appear frozen sooner, but the center may not have reached the temperature needed for consistent processing. A shorter freeze can result in soft, liquid, or unevenly processed ice cream.

4. Can I make this recipe in a standard Ninja CREAMi?

The chocolate base can be adapted for a standard Ninja CREAMi, but machines without the Scoop & Swirl dispensing system cannot create the same extruded soft-serve presentation.

Process the frozen base using the most appropriate ice cream program for your model. Re-spin it if necessary, then scoop it into bowls and add the s’mores toppings.

Always use the pint designed specifically for your machine. Parts and containers are not necessarily interchangeable between Ninja CREAMi models.

5. Why is my Ninja CREAMi soft serve crumbly?

The pint may be colder than the program expects, particularly if it was stored near the coldest part of the freezer. A crumbly first result does not necessarily mean the recipe failed.

Use the RE-SPIN function and check the texture again. Once the base is smooth, install the dispense lid and serve it. Avoid adding toppings to the pint before re-spinning or dispensing.

Bring Campfire Flavor to Your Kitchen

Ninja CREAMi S’mores Soft Serve combines the nostalgia of a campfire dessert with the smooth texture and playful presentation of soft-serve ice cream. The chocolate base is easy to prepare, requires no eggs or cooking, and can be stored in the freezer until dessert time.

The key is to keep the frozen base smooth and reserve the graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate pieces for serving. This protects the dispensing system while preserving the contrasting textures that make a s’more so satisfying.

With gooey marshmallow creme, crunchy graham crackers, rich chocolate, and an optional toasted-marshmallow finish, this recipe turns one Swirl Pint into a memorable dessert for family nights, summer parties, movie nights, or any occasion that calls for something more exciting than an ordinary bowl of ice cream.

Last update on 2026-07-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API